Feed distribution system for poultry

ABSTRACT

Described is a feed distribution system with feed dispensers ( 20 ), dispenser trays ( 22 ) of which have a convex edge ( 27 ) with successive edge areas ( 61 ) which have a relatively large radius of curvature and edge areas ( 62 ) which have a relatively small radius of curvature; a suitable shape in this connection is an elliptical shape, a triangular shape, a hexagonal shape etc.  
     The invention provides improved animal welfare, inter alia through a larger feeding space and also larger living space when the birds are not feeding. The invention further provides improved economic efficiency for the breeder, inter alia by reduced costs per bird.

[0001] The present invention relates in its entirety to the feeding ofpoultry, such as chickens, turkeys etc., with feed that is substantiallyin powder form or granule form or the like, said birds in principlebeing able to run free in large poultry houses. Such poultry housestypically have dimensions of the order of 100 m×18 m.

[0002] Although in the case of feed systems for poultry there aredifferences depending on the type of birds for which the systems areintended, for example chickens or turkeys, and for example tablechickens or mother chickens, there are also similarities. The presentinvention relates to an aspect of the distribution systems that ispresent in all such feed systems, namely their geometry.

[0003] These birds are fed with feed that is in powder form or granuleform or the like. The feed systems have in common the fact that fixedfeed dispensing points are present in the poultry house, and that thefeed to be dispensed has to be conveyed from a central storage place tosaid feed dispensing points. For the conveyance of the feed to bedispensed from a central storage place to the feed dispensing points, apipe conveyor system is present, which pipe conveyor system comprisesone or more substantially horizontally directed feed conveyor pipes,which are disposed substantially parallel to each other, and which feedconveyor pipes are provided with means for conveying feed through them.

[0004] The feed distribution points are situated along theabovementioned feed conveyor pipes, and in general have regulardistances between them. Said regular distances between successive feedpoints of one feed conveyor pipe are generally shorter than thedistances between feed conveyor pipes situated next to each other.

[0005] In this way the feed points normally define a regular gridpattern on the floor of the poultry house, which grid pattern iscomposed of rectangular cells whose corner points are defined by thefeed points.

[0006] A feed dispenser is disposed at each feed point. A feed dispenserin its entirety comprises a tray on which feed comes to rest, which feedcan be pecked off said tray by the birds, and also guide means forguiding a part of the feed out of the horizontal feed conveyor pipe andinto the tray of the dispenser. Said guide means comprise in general asuitably dimensioned, substantially vertically oriented down pipe, thetop end of which is connected to an outlet of the feed conveyor pipe,and the bottom end of which is situated above a central part of saidtray. The down pipe is connected to the feed conveyor pipe by means of aconnecting piece, and the tray is also connected to said connectingpiece by means of arms. More particularly, the tray, the down pipe, theconnecting piece and the arms form a modular unit that can be attachedas a whole to a feed conveyor pipe.

[0007] In this way, during use feed is conveyed into the tray, whichfeed is pecked out of said tray by the birds. In order to do so, thebirds stand in a circle around the tray.

[0008] Since the birds have a beak that is relatively small in relationto their body, the dispenser tray could theoretically have very smalldimensions, so that said dispenser trays could be regarded as pointed inrelation to the surface area of the poultry house. However, for physicalreasons that will be clear to persons skilled in the art, the down pipemust have a certain minimum diameter in order to ensure unimpeded feedconveyance, and the dimensions of the tray must be at least greater thanthose of the down pipe, in order to ensure that the tray receives feedflowing out of the down pipe. In addition, the horizontal dimensionsselected for the tray must be so much greater than the diameter of thedown pipe that it is ensured that each tray has a feed presentationsection which is situated, at least in vertical projection, on the floorsurface next to the down pipe, in order to ensure in this way that thebirds can move their heads above the feed without being obstructed. Allthis means that the tray has certain minimum dimensions and consequentlytakes up a finite part of the surface area of the floor of the poultryhouse.

[0009] The term “shape” of the dispenser tray will be used below toconvey the contour of the vertical projection of said dispenser tray onthe floor of the poultry house, from the normal position of thedispenser when in use. In addition, the term “surface area” of thedispenser tray will be used below to convey the surface of saidprojected shape, and the term “circumference” will be used to convey thecircumference of said projected shape. Dispenser trays nowadays arealmost always a circular shape.

[0010] As stated above, the birds crowd in a circle around the dispensertrays while they are feeding. The distances between successive dispensertrays of one feed conveyor pipe are then selected so that they are atleast large enough to ensure that the birds standing around saidadjacent dispenser trays do not obstruct each other. In the case ofchickens, for example, said distance from edge to edge typically lies inthe region of 40 cm.

[0011] Thus the minimum distance between the successive feed pointsalong a feed conveyor line is determined by the size of the birds, onthe one hand, and the diameter of the dispenser trays, on the otherhand. With a typical tray diameter of approximately 35 cm, this leads toa minimum distance of 75 cm (centre to centre) between the successivefeed points. This distance between feed points, also indicated below bythe term “dispenser pitch” is the determining factor for the maximumnumber of feed points that can be provided along the length of the feedconveyor pipe, in other words the length of the poultry house concerned.

[0012] It will also be clear that each dispenser tray can provide only alimited number of birds with feed simultaneously. Said numbercorresponds to the number of birds in a circle around the dispenser trayif the birds are standing shoulder to shoulder. That number is typicallyof the order of 10 to 20. All this means a limit to the total number ofbirds that can be housed in a particular poultry house.

[0013] The number of birds that can be fed in the poultry house could beincreased by reducing the dispenser pitch of the successive feed pointsalong the feed conveyor pipes, since this means that more feed pointscan be provided in the poultry house. It would, however, mean areduction of the distances between the individual successive dispensertrays, and that means that the birds would be obstructed in theirfreedom to move around in the poultry house.

[0014] As an alternative, the number of birds that can be fed in thepoultry house could be increased by increasing the diameter of the pans,thereby also lengthening the circumference and making it possible formore birds to stand in the circle around the dispenser tray. However,the effect of this would only be limited, because the pitch of thedispensers would then also have to be increased. Moreover, the birdswould then no longer be able to peck up the feed lying far away from theedge, which would mean a reduction of the economic efficiency of thedispensers. Furthermore, a larger dispenser tray inevitably means theuse of more material, and thus higher costs.

[0015] Broadly speaking, the fact is that the total number of birds thatcan be housed and fed in a poultry house is proportional to the totallength of the circumferences of all dispenser trays set up in thepoultry house. In the case of the current designs the basic idea wasthat each bird had to have as much feed as possible at its disposal, andtherefore that the ratio of tray surface area to tray circumference hadto be as great as possible. This consideration led to the currentdesigns in which the tray is circular; it is a known fact that thecircle is an arithmetical figure with the greatest possible ratio ofsurface to circumference. However, the feeding surface taken up in thepoultry house by the dispenser trays means a restriction of the spacethat the birds have to move around. The free living space for the birdscan be defined as the total surface area of the poultry house minus thetotal surface area taken up by the dispenser trays. The more surfacearea taken up by the dispenser trays, the less living space will be leftover for the birds.

[0016] A feed dispenser according to the preamble of claim 1 is known,for example from FR-A-2,680,949, which discloses a feed dispenser withan elongate, rectangular dispenser tray. The feed dispenser furthercomprises a down pipe, the bottom end edge of which is also an elongate,rectangular shape.

[0017] A disadvantage in this case is that the living and feedingsurface areas available in a poultry house are still limited. The birdsstand with the broadest parts of their bodies, i.e. their shoulders,against each other along the straight circumferential edge areas of thedispenser tray while they are feeding. The total available length at thecircumferential edge of the dispenser tray is utilized inefficiently asa result of this. While the birds are feeding their heads are positionedat relatively great distances from each other, distances correspondingto the breadths of the shoulders of the birds.

[0018] It is a general object of the present invention to provide animproved feed dispenser in which the abovementioned problems are reducedor even eliminated.

[0019] The present invention is based on a totally different designidea. Instead of the idea of offering as much feed as possible per bird,the present invention is based on the idea of admitting as many birds aspossible to the feed, whilst still ensuring that each bird receivessufficient feed. The present invention aims to provide a feeddistribution system that is improved compared with known feeddistribution systems by having improved efficiency and improvedanimal-friendliness. More particularly, the present invention aims toprovide a feed distribution system that with a certain available poultryhouse surface area is capable of feeding greater numbers of birds and atthe same time guaranteeing those birds more exercise space.

[0020] In order to ensure that a large number of birds can be providedwith feed in the poultry house, a relatively great total length of thecircumferences of all dispenser trays must be selected. In order to makethe exercise space available for the birds as great as possible, thefloor surface area taken up by the dispenser trays must be as small aspossible. In complete contrast to the current designs, these apparentlyconflicting considerations lead to the design criterion that the ratioof tray circumference to tray surface area must be great.

[0021] Based on these design criteria, the present invention provides animproved feed dispenser according to claim 1. According to the presentinventive idea, the dispenser tray has areas where the circumferentialedge has a relatively large radius of curvature and areas where thecircumferential edge has a relatively small radius of curvature. Thecurved circumferential edge areas with differing radii of curvatureadvantageously make it possible to make efficient use of the spaceavailable in a poultry house. The living and feeding surface areas forthe birds can consequently be optimised. The birds standing beside eachother along the curved circumferential edge areas of the dispenser traywhile they are feeding are positioned with their heads at distances fromeach other that are smaller than their shoulder breadths, while theabovementioned disadvantages of circular dispenser trays are overcome.

[0022] In a distribution system according to the present invention thesuccessive dispensers are preferably disposed in such a way that theabovementioned edge parts of adjacent dispenser trays with relativelylarge radius of curvature are directed substantially parallel to eachother, the common direction being able to form an angle with thelongitudinal direction of the feed conveyor pipes. Said angle ispreferably equal to 90°, but it can also have another value. In acertain preferred embodiment the shape of the dispenser tray iselongate. In a feed distribution system such an elongate dispenser trayis then preferably disposed in such a way that the longitudinaldirection of each dispenser tray is directed substantiallyperpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the feed conveyorpipes.

[0023] Further preferred embodiments of the feed dispenser and of a feeddistribution system comprising such a feed dispenser are set out in thesubclaims.

[0024] These and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be explained in greater detail by the description thatfollows of preferred embodiments of a feed dispenser and feeddistribution system according to the invention with reference to thedrawing, in which identical reference numerals indicate identical orcomparable components, and in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a top view of a poultry house withdispensers according to the prior art;

[0026]FIG. 2 shows diagrammatically a cross section of a dispenser;

[0027]FIG. 3 shows diagrammatically a top view of two adjacentdispensers according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 4 shows diagrammatically a top view of an elongate dispenseraccording to the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 5 shows diagrammatically a top view of a number ofsubstantially triangular dispensers according to the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 5A shows a diagrammatic cross section of a feed conveyor pipewith dispenser tray placed below it;

[0031]FIG. 5B is a diagrammatic top view that is comparable to FIG. 5,illustrating an efficient arrangement of substantially triangulardispenser trays;

[0032]FIG. 6A shows diagrammatically a perspective view of a down pipe;and

[0033]FIG. 6B shows diagrammatically a cross section of a wall part ofthe down pipe of FIG. 6A.

[0034]FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a top view of a poultry house 1 witha floor 2, which poultry house is provided with a regular pattern offeed points 3 for poultry 4. A feed dispenser 20 of a feed distributionsystem 10 for feed in powder form or granule form is present at eachfeed point 3. The feed distribution system 10 comprises in its entiretya number of feed conveyor pipes 14 (in the example illustrated: three),which are disposed parallel to each other and are connected by way of acommon main pipe 12 to a storage bin 11, which is generally situatedoutside the poultry house 1. The main pipe 12 is provided with a mainfeed conveyor 13, such as, for example, a conveyor worm or spiralconveyor or chain system, and the feed conveyor pipes 14 are eachprovided with a corresponding feed conveyor 15. The feed conveyors 13and 15 are indicated only diagrammatically in FIG. 1 as a blockcorresponding to the feed conveyor pipe 12 or 14 concerned. Since suchfeed conveyor systems are known per se, and the type of conveyor meansin said conveyor pipes does not constitute a subject of the presentinvention, this subject need not be explained in any further detailhere.

[0035] The feed points 3 are situated at a regular mutual distance P₃along the feed conveyor pipes 14. The distance between the individualfeed conveyor pipes 14 is indicated by P₁₄, and is also indicated by theterm “pipe pitch” below. The pipe pitch P₁₄ is generally greater thanthe dispenser pitch P₃. For the sake of simplicity, only four feedpoints per feed conveyor pipe are shown in FIG. 1; in a real situationthat number will be far greater.

[0036] As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 2, a feed dispenser 20comprises a dispenser tray 22 with a substantially vertically orienteddown pipe 21 disposed above it. The top end of the down pipe 21 isconnected to an outlet 25 of the feed conveyor pipe 14. The bottom partof the down pipe 21 usually has a divergent shape. The bottom end of thedown pipe 21 is situated above a central part of the dispenser tray 22.

[0037] The dispenser tray 22 is attached directly or indirectly by meansof bearing arms 24 to the feed conveyor pipe 14. In the example shownthe top end of the down pipe 21 is attached by means of a connectingelement 23 to the feed conveyor pipe 14, and the dispenser tray 22 isattached by means of bearing arms 24 to said connecting element 23. Thecombination of connecting element 23, down pipe 21, bearing arms 24 anddispenser tray 22 forms a dispenser unit.

[0038] The dispenser tray 22 has a bottom 26 and an edge 27. During use,feed 5 in powder form or granule form will be conveyed out of the feedconveyor pipe 14 and through the down pipe 21 onto the bottom 26 of thedispenser tray 22. The idea is for a bird 4, such as, for example, achicken, a turkey etc., standing outside the dispenser tray 22 to beable to peck up the feed 5 from the dispenser tray 22. To do this, anumber of birds 4 stand in a circle around the dispenser tray 22, asshown diagrammatically at A in FIG. 1. It should be clear that the exactmaximum number of birds that can stand in such a circle will depend,inter alia, on the dimensions of the dispenser tray 22 and thedimensions of the birds 4.

[0039] The distance D₃ between individual successive dispenser trays 22is selected to be such that the birds standing around two successivedispenser trays 22 will cause little or no obstruction to each other. Asexplained earlier, that means an upper limit on the number of dispensers20 that can be set up in the poultry house 1, and thus an upper limit onthe number of birds N₄ that can be housed in the poultry house 1. Saidupper limit corresponds to a situation in which all birds feedsimultaneously. In principle, it can be said that the maximum number ofbirds N₄ that can be housed in the poultry house 1 corresponds to thefollowing formula 1:

N ₄=8N ₃ ·L ₂₇  (1)

[0040] in which N₃ is the number of feed points 3,

[0041] L₂₇ is the circumference of each dispenser tray 22,

[0042] and 8 is a proportionality factor that depends on the shape anddimensions of the birds 4.

[0043] If it is desired to house greater numbers of birds 4 in thepoultry house 1, it is therefore necessary either to increase the numberN₃ of feed points 3 or to place dispenser trays 22 with largercircumference. In the case of circular dispenser trays 22 a largercircumference means a larger diameter. The placing of larger dispensertrays 22 means that the distance D₃ between individual successivedispenser trays along a feed conveyor pipe 14 becomes smaller, andtherefore that the birds 4 are going to obstruct each other duringfeeding. The same applies to the reduction of the dispenser pitch P₃.

[0044] In principle, it would be technically possible to reduce the pipepitch P₁₄, and therefore provide several feed conveyor pipes 14 in thepoultry house 1. However, this is, on the one hand, at the expense ofthe free space D₁₄ between successive feed conveyor pipes 14 and, on theother hand, means a substantial investment, since an entire conveyorline, including the corresponding conveyor, now has to be put inposition.

[0045] When the birds are not feeding, they can in principle scratcharound on the floor 2 of the poultry house 1. While doing so, they haveat their disposal strip-shaped exercise areas 6 with breadth D₁₄,defined by lines 7 running parallel to the feed conveyor pipes 14 andtouching the dispenser trays 22. The birds 4 can move from one exercisearea 6 to the adjacent exercise area 6 by way of passing areas 8 withbreadth D₃ between two successive dispenser trays 22 of the same feedconveyor pipe 14. It should be clear that the exercise area 6 and thepassages 8 will be smaller if the number of feed points 3 is increasedand if the dimensions of the dispenser trays 22 are increased. If,therefore, the number of birds in the poultry house 1 is increasedagain, this means in the end a considerable reduction of the exercisearea per bird.

[0046] In general, it can be said that the free living space A₄ for thebirds 4 in the poultry house 1 corresponds to formula 2:

A ₄ =A ₂ −N ₃ ·A ₂₂  (2)

[0047] in which A₂ is the maximum available floor surface area of thefloor 2, and in which A₂₂ is the surface area of the dispenser tray 22.As already mentioned above, this surface area is defined as the surfacearea of the perpendicular projection of the dispenser tray 22 on thefloor 2.

[0048] In the prior art the design of the dispenser tray 22 is based onthe idea that as much feed as possible must be made available per bird.The total feed quantity X₅ offered to the birds at a particular momentwill correspond to the following formula 3:

X ₅ =∀·N ₃ ·A ₂₂  (3)

[0049] in which ∀ is a proportionality factor.

[0050] The idea of making the feed quantity X₅ per bird as great aspossible means striving for a maximum X₅/N₄ ratio, or a maximum A₂₂/L₂₇ratio. This has led to the dispenser trays 22 according to the prior arthaving a circular contour, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0051] According to the insights of the present invention, that circularform is not, however, ideal. In the first place, it can be seen in FIG.1 that optimum use is not being made of the surface area of the floor 2during feeding. FIG. 1 shows subsidiary lines 331 and 332, extendingparallel to a feed conveyor pipe 14 and touching the rear ends of thebirds 4, which are standing in circles around the dispensers 20belonging to said feed conveyor pipe 14. A feeding strip 32 will bedefined as the strip-shaped part of the floor 2 bounded by said lines 33₁ and 33 ₂. It can be seen clearly in FIG. 1 that the birds 4 are notmaking full use of the feeding strip 32. More particularly, there isalways an hourglass-shaped surface part 34 of the feeding strip 32between two successive feed points 3 that is not being used.

[0052] In addition, it can be seen from formula 2 that maximizing theratio A₂₂/L₂₇ is accompanied by minimizing the ratio A₄/L₂₇. In general,it can be said that the dispenser trays 22 constitute a restriction ofthe free living space in the situation where the birds 4 are notfeeding, but are freely scratching around in the poultry house 1.

[0053] The present invention provides a feed distribution system forfeeding poultry that is improved in terms of economic efficiency, whichsystem makes it possible to house and feed more birds in a particularpoultry house with a predetermined poultry house surface area.

[0054] The present invention also provides an improved feed distributionsystem for feeding poultry that makes it possible for the welfare of thebirds in the poultry house 1 to be improved by increasing the availablefeeding space per bird and also the available living space per bird.

[0055] The present invention is based on the insight that theabovementioned advantages can be achieved if a relatively great lengthis selected for the available feeder length L₂₇, under the preconditionthat adequate feed must always be within reach of each bird.

[0056] Based on this insight, the dispensers 20 according to the presentinvention are improved compared with the known dispensers with circulardispenser trays, by the fact that the dispenser trays 22 according tothe present invention are not circular, but are designed withcircumferential edge areas curved in a convex manner with differingradii of curvature.

[0057] Within this basic idea many different variants of embodiments arepossible, a number of which will be explained below.

[0058]FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic top view of a part of a feed conveyorline 14 with two adjacent dispensers according to one embodiment of thepresent invention, on a larger scale than that of FIG. 1. It can be seenclearly in FIG. 3 that the dispenser trays 22 are elongate, unlike thecircular dispenser trays 22 of the prior art, as illustrated in FIG. 1.It is pointed out that the view in cross section of the dispenser withcircular dispenser tray shown in FIG. 2 also applies to the dispenseraccording to the invention with elongate dispenser tray shown in FIG. 3.

[0059] The term “elongate” as referred to in the context of the presentinvention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to FIG.4. FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic top view of a dispenser tray 22, and twolines 41 and 42, which are parallel to each other and touch thecircumference of the dispenser tray 22, and which in the process, as itwere, wedge in said dispenser tray 22 between them. The mutual distancebetween the two contact lines 41, 42 is indicated by the letter D inFIG. 4. Said mutual distance will be dependent upon the orientation ofthe dispenser tray 22: if the dispenser tray 22 is rotated about avertical axis, in other words an axis of rotation perpendicular to theplane of drawing, the mutual distance between the two contact lines 41,42 will vary. At a particular rotated position of the dispenser tray 22relative to the two contact lines 41, 42 said mutual distance D is atits maximum. In that particular rotated position the directionperpendicular to said two contact lines 41, 42 then defines alongitudinal axis 43 of the dispenser tray 22, and the correspondingmaximum mutual distance between the two contact lines 41, 42 will beindicated as the length L of the dispenser tray 22.

[0060] The breadth B of the dispenser tray 22 will be defined as thedimension measured, perpendicular to the abovementioned longitudinalaxis 43, between two parallel contact lines 44, 45.

[0061] The dispenser tray 22 will be described as being “elongate” whenthe length L defined in this way is greater than the breadth B definedin this way.

[0062] It is preferable for the dispenser tray 22 to have a convexcurvature along its entire edge 27, which means that the convex side ofsaid curvature is directed outwards.

[0063] In a suitable embodiment the dispenser tray 22 is an ellipticalshape.

[0064] As mentioned earlier, the present invention provides an advantageby the fact that the dispenser tray is not circular, more particularlyby the fact that the dispenser tray is elongate. The degree of itselongation, which in the context of the present invention will bedefined as the ratio of the length as defined above to the breadth asdefined above, or L/B, is then greater than 1. The dispenser tray 22preferably has a degree of elongation L/B in the region of approximately1.2 to approximately 1.5.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 3, the elongate dispenser trays 22 are orientedin such a way relative to the feed conveyor pipes 14 that thelongitudinal axis 43 of each dispenser tray 22 forms an angle greaterthan zero with the longitudinal direction of said feed conveyor pipes14. Ideally, and as shown, said angle is approximately 90°. It can beseen that better “capacity utilization” of the floor surface area is nowachieved. With the same mutual distance between adjacent dispenser trays22, more birds can be accommodated per dispenser 20. The living surfacearea available to the birds can also be increased.

[0066] According to the present invention, the dispenser tray 22 hasfirst edge areas 51 with a relatively large radius of curvature andsecond edge areas 52 with a relatively small radius of curvature. Suchedge areas are present in the case of the elliptical embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this case the first edge areas 51 ofadjacent dispenser trays 22 face each other, and are situatedsubstantially perpendicular to the feed conveyor lines 14. There will,however, also be other configurations, in the case of which areas withrelatively small radius of curvature face each other, and are thereforesituated substantially perpendicular to the feed conveyor lines 14,while areas with relatively large radius of curvature are situated at atransversal distance from said feed conveyor pipes 14.

[0067] Although this is not essential, the feed dispenser tray 22 ispreferably symmetrical in construction. In the case of the ellipticalembodiment discussed above the dispenser tray 22 has twofold rotationalsymmetry, which means that the shape returns to the same shape afterrotation through 180°. In a special embodiment the dispenser tray 22 hasthreefold rotational symmetry, which means that the dispenser tray 22always returns to the same shape after rotation through 120°. Thedispenser tray 22 then has in its entirety a curved triangular shapewith sides 61 and corner areas 62, as illustrated diagrammatically inFIG. 5. The corner areas 62 are rounded, so that they correspond to theearlier mentioned second edge areas 52 with relatively small radius ofcurvature. The sides 61 are also curved in a convex shape, andcorrespond to the earlier mentioned first edge areas 51 with relativelylarge radius of curvature.

[0068] In the case of threefold rotational symmetry said sides 61 are ofmutually equal lengths, as illustrated at A in FIG. 5. It is, however,possible for the dispenser tray 22 to have two equal sides 61A and athird side 61B of shorter length, or a third side 61C of longer length,as illustrated in FIG. 5 at B and at C respectively. In that case thereis no question of rotational symmetry, but only of a mirror symmetryrelative to a plane of symmetry 63 perpendicular to said third side 61B,61C.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 5, the successive dispenser trays 22 are thenpreferably mounted relative to the feed conveyor pipes 14 in such a waythat said plane of symmetry 63 is directed substantially perpendicularlyto said feed conveyor pipes 14, in which case the orientation ofsuccessive dispenser trays 22 is then continually alternating. In thisway it is ensured that the first and second sides 61A of adjacentdispenser trays 22 run substantially parallel to each other, at an anglerelative to the feed conveyor pipe 14.

[0070] In FIG. 5A an imaginary vertical plane through a conveyor pipe 14is indicated by reference numeral 70. In principle, it is possible for adispenser tray 22 to be situated entirely beside said plane 70, in whichcase the down pipe 21 will then be positioned at an angle, asillustrated at A in FIG. 5A. It is, however, preferable for the downpipe 21 to run in a substantially vertical direction, coinciding withsaid plane 70, in which case the dispenser tray 22 is situated below theconveyor pipe 14 and is intersected by the plane 70 in two imaginaryparts 71, 72, as illustrated at B in FIG. 5A. In the event of thedispenser tray 22 having a triangular shape, there is then always oneedge area 61 that is not intersected by said plane 70; this edge areawill also be indicated below by the term transversal outermost edge part61X (see also FIG. 5). The opposite edge part 62 with relatively smallradius of curvature, which is therefore situated on the other side ofsaid plane 70, will also be indicated below by the term transversaloutermost corner part 62X.

[0071] The breadths (in other words, the transversal dimensionperpendicular to the plane 70) of said two imaginary parts 71, 72 can beidentical to each other. This is applicable particularly where thedispenser tray 22 is of an elliptical shape, but can also be appliedwhere the dispenser tray 22 is of a triangular shape.

[0072] A shape centre of gravity Z can be defined for each tray shape inthe manner customary in mathematics (see FIG. 5). For good distributionof the feed in the dispenser tray 22 it may be desirable for the downpipe 21 to open out above said centre of gravity Z. The successivedispensers 20 can be disposed in such a way that their respectivecentres of gravity Z are situated in one line, which line is situated,for example, in said plane 70. In that case, in the case of triangulartrays 22, the breadths of said two imaginary parts 71, 72 differ fromeach other. More particularly, the breadth at the side of thetransversal outermost edge part 61X is then less than the breadth at theside of the transversal outermost corner part 62X.

[0073] In the case of triangular dispenser trays better utilization ofthe floor surface area is, however, achieved if the dispenser trays arein fact displaced in opposite directions relative to said plane 70,because the dispenser pitch can then be reduced. In that case thetransversal distance from a corner point 62X of the dispenser tray 22 tosaid plane 70 is therefore less than the transversal distance from theopposite edge part 61X to said plane 70, as illustrated in FIG. 5B. Thecentres of gravity Z of successive dispenser trays 22 are then situatedon either side of said plane 70.

[0074] In this way the present invention provides a feed distributionsystem with feed dispensers 20 that have a convex edge 27 withsuccessive edge areas 61 which have a relatively large radius ofcurvature and edge areas 62 which have a relatively small radius ofcurvature. A suitable shape in this connection is an elliptical shape, acurved triangular shape, a hexagonal shape etc. The invention providesimproved animal welfare, inter alia through a larger feeding space andalso larger living space when the birds are not feeding. The inventionfurther provides improved economic efficiency for the breeder, interalia by reduced costs per bird.

[0075] A further aspect of the present invention relates to the downpipe, indicated in FIG. 2 by reference numeral 21. Said down pipe has inits entirety a diverging cross section, which in this case means thatthe inner cross section at a top end, at the position where the downpipe 21 connects to the horizontal feed conveyor pipe 14, is smallerthan it is at the bottom end of the down pipe 21, which bottom end willbe situated in the vicinity of the bottom 26 of the dispenser tray 22.In the case of known feed dispensers the down pipe 21 generally has atop down pipe part 21 A that is of a cylindrical design, and a bottomdown pipe part 21 B that is the shape of a surface of a cone. The bottomend edge of said bottom down pipe part then defines the outflow apertureof the down pipe, and said bottom end edge of the down pipe in the caseof known feed dispensers is generally a circular shape. According to apreferred aspect of the present invention, said bottom end edge isnon-circular in shape, being substantially the same shape as thedispenser tray 22. The shape of the bottom end edge of the down pipe 21Cand the shape of the dispenser tray 22 are preferably matched in such away that the horizontal distance between the edge 27 of the dispensertray 22 and the bottom end edge of the down pipe 21C, measuredperpendicular to the edge 27 of the dispenser tray 22, is substantiallythe same over the entire circumference of the dispenser tray 22.

[0076] When poultry is being fed by means of a feed distribution systemof the type described above, the intention is that the dispensers 20should be used not only for the somewhat older birds, but also for theyoung birds. The older birds generally have no difficulty in finding thefeed in the dispenser trays. On the one hand, these older birds arelarger, so that they can easily look over the edge 27 of the dispensertrays 22 and in this way see the feed 5 lying in the dispenser tray 22.On the other hand, these birds are used to the feed distribution system,and they know that feed can be obtained in the dispenser trays 22. Thesame feed dispensers are, however, used already in the first days oflife of the poultry. One-day-old chicks have more difficulty in findingthe feed being offered, on the one hand because they do not yet knowthat feed can be obtained in the dispenser tray 22, and on the otherhand because they cannot easily look over the edge 27 of the dispensertray 22, and therefore cannot easily see the feed lying there. Since itis important for efficient rearing of the birds that they havesufficient to eat right from the first day of their life, the presentinvention aims to improve a feed dispenser in such a way thatone-day-old chicks can find their feed more easily.

[0077]FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic perspective view of a down pipe improvedin this respect according to the present invention, indicated in itsentirety by the reference numeral 100. Said down pipe 100 comprises abottom wall part 110 with a bottom end edge 111, provided with openings112 acting as through-flow apertures. FIG. 6B shows diagrammatically across section of the bottom part of the down pipe 100, placed on adispenser tray 20. The bottom wall part 110 can be vertically oriented,as illustrated, but this is not essential.

[0078]FIG. 6B shows diagrammatically that the bottom 26 of the dispensertray 22 can have a conical central part 26A, and a lowest bottom part26B situated between said central part 26A and the edge 27. The contourof said lowest bottom part 26B can, as usual, be a substantiallycircular contour. Where the dispenser tray 22 has a non-circularcontour, for example the elliptical shape or triangular shape discussedabove as a preferred embodiment, the lowest bottom part 26B preferablyhas a circumferential contour corresponding to it.

[0079]FIG. 6B shows that in a certain operating state, in which the downpipe 100 has a vertically lowest position relative to the dispenser tray22, the bottom end edge 111 of the down pipe 100 rests on theabovementioned lowest bottom part 26B of the dispenser tray 22. If feedfalls from the horizontal conveyor pipe 14 through the down pipe 100 andfalls into the dispenser tray 22, at least some of said feed 5 will passthe bottom wall part 110 of the down pipe 100 by way of said apertures112, as indicated diagrammatically by the arrows PI, and in this way gointo an annular space defined between the circumferential edge 27 of thedispenser tray 22 and the bottom wall part 110 of the down pipe 100.

[0080] This feed is easy to reach for birds standing outside thedispenser tray 22. One-day-old chicks have the problem, however, thatthey are still very small and therefore cannot easily see the feed 5lying behind the edge 27. They therefore do not know that feed isobtainable behind said edge 27. In order to reduce this problem, thedown pipe 100 is provided with a bait table 130 at the top end of thebottom wall part 110. The down pipe 100 has a top wall part 120extending upwards from the bait table 130 to the connecting element 23,which is not, however, shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The top wall part 120has a bottom edge 121, which defines an inside edge for the bait table130, and is provided with through-flow apertures 122.

[0081] If feed falls out of the conveyor pipe 14 down into the down pipe100, a portion of that feed falling down will leave the down pipe by wayof the through-flow apertures 122 and fall onto the bait table 130, asshown diagrammatically by the arrow P2 in FIG. 6B. The bait table 130 issituated at a higher level than the top surface of the feed 5 in theabovementioned annular space between the bottom wall part 110 of thedown pipe 100 and the edge 27 of the dispenser tray 22. In this way thefeed 105 lying on the bait table 130 is easier for one-day-old chicks tosee. The bait table 130 is preferably situated at a higher level thanthe top of the circumferential edge 27 of the dispenser tray 22, asindicated by the letter H in FIG. 6B. The height difference H need notbe great: a height difference of the order of a few millimetres issufficient. However, even if the bait table 130 is situated severalmillimetres lower down than the top of the circumferential edge 27, thefeed 105 lying on the bait table 130 is easy for one-day-old chicks tosee.

[0082] The ready visibility of the feed 105 lying on the bait table 130is further improved if the bait table 130, and preferably the entiredown pipe 100, is made in a light colour, because the feed used islargely a dark brown colour, so that there is then a good visualcontrast between the feed 105 and the background.

[0083] The bottom edge 121 of the top wall part 120 of the down pipe 100can have a contour that corresponds to the contour of the top edge 113of the bottom wall part 110, so that the bait table 130 is substantiallythe same breadth over the entire circumference. However, it ispreferable, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, for the top wall part 120 to havea polygonal circumferential contour at least over a part of its height,for example a hexagonal circumferential contour, as illustrated. It isshown in FIG. 6A that the top wall part 120 comprises six wall sections123, which meet each other in intersecting edges 124. In the verticaldirection the top wall part 120 is divergent, in other words thetransverse measurements increase towards the bottom. In the exampleshown the wall sections 123 are curved in a concave manner in thevertical direction, in other words with the hollow side outwards.

[0084] The cross section of a wall section 123 with a horizontal planecan be a straight line part. It is preferable, as also shown in FIG. 6A,for the wall sections 123 also to be curved in a concave manner in thehorizontal direction, in other words with the hollow side outwards. Thebottom end edge 121 of each wall section 123 is consequently a concaveline, which is curved in the opposite direction relative to the top edge113 of the bottom wall part 10. It is preferable, as shown in FIG. 6A,for the intersecting edges 124 to end at the top edge 113 of the bottomedge part 110. In this way the bait table 130 is in fact subdivided inthe circumferential direction into six successive table sections.

[0085] In the example of FIG. 6B the outermost circumferential edge ofthe bait table 130 connects precisely to the top edge 113 of the bottomwall part 110. Said top edge 113 of the bottom wall part 110 could alsoproject slightly above the bait table 130, in order to retain moreeasily the feed 105 streaming onto it (P2).

[0086] On the other hand, the bait table 130 could project in the radialdirection beyond the bottom wall part 110, in order to be able to offera greater table surface in this way.

[0087] Each through-flow aperture 122 in the top wall part 120 has a topedge 125 and a bottom edge 126. Said bottom edge 126 can be situated inthe vertical direction at the level of the bait table 130, as shown inFIG. 6A for a wall section 123A. It is also possible for said bottomedge 126 to be situated higher up than the bait table 130, so that belowsaid bottom edge 126 of a through-flow aperture 122 a raised edge ispresent, with the result that the feed 105 flowing onto the bait table130 is more easily retained, as shown in FIG. 6A, for a wall section123B.

[0088] The through-flow apertures 122 can be in the form of a hole inthe corresponding wall sections 123. Since the wall sections 123 in theexample discussed are curved in a concave manner in the verticaldirection, the bottom edge 126 of a through-flow aperture 122 is thensituated further outwards in radial terms than the corresponding topedge 125. This can make it difficult for the feed 105 flowing downwardsin the down pipe 100 to flow outwards (P2) through the through-flowaperture 122. Although the feed 105 on the bait table 130 primarily hasonly an enticing function, and the quantity of feed 105 on the baittable 130 need not therefore be large, it may be desirable for it to beso in order to promote the outflow of feed 105. To that end, the bottomedge 126 of a through-flow aperture 122 can be placed further inwards inradial terms, so that the bait table 130 has an inside edge 131 which inradial terms is situated within the down pipe 100, as shown in anexaggerated manner in FIG. 6A for a wall section 123C, in order in thisway to be able to receive a greater part of the feed flowing downwardsin the down pipe 100.

[0089] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope ofthe present invention is not limited to the examples discussed above,but that various changes and modifications thereof are possible withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

1. Feed dispenser for feeding poultry, comprising a dispenser tray (22)and guide means (21) for guiding feed from a horizontal feed conveyorpipe (14) to the dispenser tray (22), in which the dispenser tray (22)is a non-circular shape, characterized in that the dispenser tray (22)has a circumferential edge (27) with first edge areas (51) which have arelatively large radius of curvature and second edge areas (52) whichhave a relatively small radius of curvature.
 2. Feed dispenser accordingto claim 1, in which the dispenser tray (22) is an elongate shape. 3.Feed dispenser according to claim 2, in which the dispenser tray (22) isan elliptical shape.
 4. Feed dispenser according to claim 1 or 2, inwhich the dispenser tray is substantially a curved triangular shape,preferably with threefold rotational symmetry.
 5. Feed dispenseraccording to one of the preceding claims, in which the guide meanscomprise a down pipe (21) with a bottom end edge (21C) of a non-circularshape, said bottom end edge (21C) having first edge areas with arelatively large radius of curvature and second edge areas with arelatively small radius of curvature.
 6. Feed dispenser according toclaim 5, in which said bottom end edge (21C) is an elliptical shape. 7.Feed dispenser according to claim 5, in which the bottom end edge issubstantially a curved triangular shape, preferably with threefoldrotational symmetry.
 8. Feed dispenser according to one of claims 5-7,in which the bottom end edge (21C) of the down pipe (21) issubstantially the same shape as the dispenser tray (22).
 9. Feeddispenser according to claim 8, in which the horizontal distance betweenthe bottom end edge (21C) of the down pipe (21) and the edge (27) of thedispenser tray (22) is substantially the same over the entirecircumference of the dispenser tray (22).
 10. Feed distribution system(10), comprising at least one substantially horizontal feed conveyorpipe (14) and a number of feed dispensers (20) attached with mutualspacing to said feed conveyor pipe (14),according to one of claims 1-9.11. Feed distribution system according to claim 10, in which the feeddispensers (20) have a longitudinal axis (43) which forms an anglegreater than zero with the longitudinal direction of the feed conveyorpipe (14) concerned.
 12. Feed distribution system according to claim 10or 11, in which the feed dispensers have a plane of symmetry (63) whichforms an angle greater than zero with the longitudinal direction of thefeed conveyor pipe (14) concerned.
 13. Feed distribution systemaccording to claim 11 or 12, in which said angle is substantially equalto 90°.
 14. Feed distribution system according to one of claims 10-13,in which the orientation of successive dispenser trays (22) isalternating.
 15. Feed distribution system according to one of thepreceding claims 10-14, in which the transversal distance of a cornerpoint (62X) of a dispenser tray (22) from a vertical plane (70) throughthe conveyor pipe (14) is shorter than the transversal distance of theopposite edge part (61X) from said plane (70).